Toy atomic waste disposal car



y 5, 1962 J. L. BQNANNQ' 3,034,256

TOY ATOMIC WASTE DISPOSAL CAR Filed April 22, 1959 INVENTOR zfiwspk/ A.ZONfl/VNO ATTO R N EYS Unitcd States Patent Gfice 3,34,Z56 Patented May15, 1962 3,034,256 TQY ATDMHI WASTE DISPGSAL CAR Joseph L. Bonanno,South Orange, N.J., assignor to The Lionel Corporation, New York, N.Y.,a corporation of New York Filed Apr. 22, 1959, Ser. No. 808,166 11Claims. (Cl. 46-226) the flatcar contain light bulbs which are energizedthrough a set of rail contact members which receive energy via the trackstructure through the wheels of the vehicle which are maintained on thetrack.

While not necessarily limited thereto, the invention is particularlyapplicable to a flatcar construction having means for positioning andelectrically connecting one or more containers thereon each having alight therein for actuation through the flatcar from the track structureover which the flatcar is moved.

The containers may advantageously simulate atomic energy Wastecontainers and are provided with window cutouts to permit flashing oflight therethrough to simulate what a child may imagine to be radiationrays from atomic waste. The light-source used within the containers mayadvantageously contain a thermostatically controlled switch toperiodically interrupt the electrical circuit and hence cause flashingof the light bulb which is energized.

Accordingly, it is an object of this invention to provide an improvedmodel railway flatcar.

A further object of this invention is to provide a toy having a set ofrail contact and securing members on the top thereof for the positioningof a plurality of containers thereon having a light therein which isconnected electrically by the positioning of the container on theflatcar.

A further object of the invention is to provide an atomic energy wastedisposal flatcar including a light bulb positioned in a container whichis mounted on conductive rail terminal members mounted on top of theflatcar and including means to intermittently flash the light so thatits rays are visible through openings in the container to simulate whata child may imagine to be radiation energy rays.

A further object of the invention is to provide a toy which is simple indesign, rugged in construction and economical to manufacture.

The various features of novelty which characterize the invention arepointed out with particularity in the claims annexed to and forming apart of this specification. For a better understanding of the invention,its operating advan tages and specific objects attained by its use,reference should be had to the accompanying drawings and descriptivematter in which there is illustrated and described a preferredembodiment of the invention.

In the drawings: 7

FIG. 1 is an exploded perspective view of a model railway flatcar havingan atomic energy disposal container thereon constructed in accordancewith the invention; and

FIG. 2. is a perspective view of the container lamp assembly.

Referring to the drawings in particular, the invention as embodiedtherein includes a model railway flatcar generally designated 10 havinga forward and rear set of wheel trucks 12 and 14, respectively, adaptedfor positioning on a track structure 16 and for movement of the flatcarthereover.

The rails of the track structure 16 are energized electrically andcommunicate this power through the wheelsand cables 18 and 20 to a pairof elongated'conductive rail members 22 and 24 which are positioned ontop of the flatcar with their longitudinal axes in alignment with thelongitudinal axis of the flatcar.

In accordance with the invention, the conductive rail members 22.and 24are mounted in spaced parallel relationship on top of the flatcar inorder to provide both a mounting support and an electrical contact formem bers positioned thereon.

Positioned on the rail structures 22 and 24 are two containers 26, 26which in this embodiment are constructed to simulate atomic wastedisposal containers. Each of the containers 26 are notched at twolocations 28 and 30 on each of its four walls adjacent the bottom edgethereof.

The rails 22 and 24 are spaced apart suificiently to align with thenotches, and the containers may be positioned thereon when aligned inany of four directions.

Positioned within each of the containers 26. is a lamp supportingbracket generally designated 32 having two sets of opposite upstandingtransparent side-walls 34 and 36 which converge toward the top endthereof and which may be sprung together to permit insertion into thecontainers. Each wall contains a protuberance 38 which locks into anupper opening 40 of a series of window openings generally designated 42.The window openings 42 are covered with a red transparent material sothat the light which is emitted through these windows will flash red.

A lamp generally designated .44 is positioned above flanged portions 46and 48, which in turn are secured to the bracket 32. The lamp 44includes terminal wires 50 and 52 which extend around and areelectrically c0nnected to outwardly extending corner lugs 54 and 56respectively. The lugs 54 and 56 are electrically conductive and eachlug is connected to'a pair of depending terminal lugs 58 and 60 whichare located in planes at right angles to each other.

When the containers 26 are positioned in one direction, opposite lugs 58and 58 are biased into contact with respective ones of the rails 22 and24. When the container is rotated degrees and positioned on the rails inthis direction, the lugs 60, 61} are biased into contact with the rails22 and 24. Thus lamp 44 is always electrically and mechanicallyconnected through either of the depending lugs 58 and 60 which are bimedinto holding engagement with and continuously receive power from thetrack structure 16.

The lamp 44 is of a type having a thermostatic switching element 62which, upon reaching a certain temperature opens the circuit and causesthe lamp to go out. Thus as the flatcar 10 is moved along the trackstructure 16, power supply from the track structure is efiective toiflash the lamp 44 within the container 26 and cause the flashing raysto be exhibited through the windows 42. The containers 26 are labeledRadioactive Waste-Danger. To a child, the flashing light gives theappearance of the emission of radioactive rays through the Windows ofthe waste disposal containers 26.

While a specific embodiment of the invention has been shown anddescribed in detail to illustrate the application of the inventionprinciples, it will be understood that the invention may be embodiedotherwise without departing from such principles.

What is claimed is:

1. A toy comprising a body member having a substantially flat top, apair of elongated rails positioned on and extending along the uppersurface of said top, model railway car shipping containers havingnotched portions fittainer.

ting over said rails, a lamp in each of said containers an springcontact means connected to each said lamp and biased into contact withsaid rails, and means to energize said rails.

2. A toy according to claim 1 wherein each said shipplng container isprovided with window openings and i said lamp includes means toperiodically disconnect said lamp from said electrical energizing meanswhereby to cause flashing of light through the window of'said con- 3. Amodel railway fiatcar including a forward and rear set of Wheels forpositioning said car on a track structurefor movement thereover, atleast two elongated spaced rail contact members extending along theupper surface of said flatcar, a shipping container notched at each endand positioned on said flatcar, said rail contact members extending intosaid notched portions, lamp means within said container connected tosaid rail contact members, and means to energize said rail'contactmembers. i

4. A model railway flatcar according to claim 3 wherein said railcontacts are electrically connected to said wheels and said wheels areenergized by-said track structure.

5. Ainodel railway flatcar according to claim 4 where in said containershave fwindow openings therein'for the emission of light rays, and meansto cyclically disconnect said light source from said electrical energymeans whereby to cause flashing of light through said windows.

,6. A .model railway flatcar according to'claim 5 wheref in said railcontactsare arranged in parallel spaced relationship, and saidcontainers are provided with notches adjacent thesbottom ends thereof ateach end and at each notches when said container is facing in anyright-angular direction.

' tact members of each pair being located in planes at side, saidnotches being spacedsufiiciently to'position said container on saidrails with the rails extending into said notches when the container ispositioned both in an end wise and sidewise position. 7 a

..7. In combinatiorna model railway flatcar, two spaced elongatedcontact rails on said fiatcar and extending along the upper surfacethereof a cont-ainer having a lamp mounting bracket therein, a lamppositioned on said mounting bracket, two pairs" of depending resilientcontact members, the contact members of each pair being located inplanes at right angles to one another and each pair being connected to aterminal of said lamp, the deon said rail structure with therails'extending into said right angles to one another and each pairbeing connected to a terminal of said lamp, the contact members.connected to one of said lamp terminals being arranged in oppositionwith the depending contact members connected to the other of said lampterminals whereby op. posite contact members are adapted to gripenergized terminals on the model railway car for actuating said lamp.

10. A simulated atomic energy waste shipping container for dispositionatop a flat'deck of a model railway car, saidrcontainer including wallmeans having a window opening therein, -a lamp mounting bracketpositioned in-' side said container, said bracket'including opposedupstanding resilient walls and inwardly extending ledge means forsupporting a lamp thereon, at least one of said walls having aprotuberance on an outside face, said walls being capable of beingsprung together 'for insertion into an end of said container, theprotuberance thereon being arranged relative to said will means so as tobe positionable in said window to hold said bracket Within saidcontainer when the Walls of said bracket are permitted to spring apartand means on said container for mounting the same on the model railwaycar.

11. In combinatiomtwo spaced elongated model railway contact rails, acontainer having a lamp mounting bracket therein, a lamp positioned onsaid mounting bracket, two pairs or depending resilient contact members,said resilient members in each pair being located in planes at rightangles to one another and each pair being connected to a terminal ofsaid lamp, the depending resilient contact members of one of said lampterminals being arranged in opposition with the depending contactmembers of the other of said lamp terminals and opposite contact membersgripping the spaced elongated model railway contact rails when saidcontainer is positioned thereon.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS947,154 Freeman Jan. 18, 1910 1,674,238 Becker June 19, 1928 2,002,358Smith May 21, 1935 2,153,983 Kelch et al. Apr. 11, 1939 2,325,883Schleif Aug. 3, 1943 2,863,038 Lombardo Dec. 2, 1958

